Initial D (film)

Initial D
Initial D
	Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese	頭文字D
Simplified Chinese	头文字D
Hanyu Pinyin	Tóu Wén Zì D
Jyutping	Tau4 Man4 Zi6 D
Directed by	Andrew Lau; Alan Mak
Screenplay by	Felix Chong
Story by	Jay Chou
Produced by	Andrew Lau
Starring	Jay Chou; Anne Suzuki; Edison Chen; Anthony Wong; Shawn Yue; Chapman To; Jordan Chan; Kenny Bee;
Cinematography	Lai Yiu-fai; Andrew Lau
Edited by	Wong Hoi
Music by	Chan Kwong-wing
Production; companies	Media Asia Films; Sil-Metropole; Basic Pictures
Distributed by	Media Asia Distribution
Release date	23 June 2005;
Running time	110 minutes
Countries	Hong Kong and China
Languages	Japanese; Cantonese; Filipino; English;
Budget	US$12 million
Box office	US$10.8 million

Initial D is a 2005 Japanese-Hong Kong action film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is a film adaptation of the Japanese Initial D manga series, with elements combined from the first, second, and third stages. The main character, Takumi Fujiwara, is portrayed by Jay Chou in his film acting debut.^[3]

Plot

Takumi Fujiwara is a high school student who has been delivering tofu to the resorts in Mount Akina in his father Bunta's Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86. He also works part-time at a gas station where his friend Itsuki, the owner's son and a high school dropout, aspires to be a street racer. Natsuki Mogi, an attractive classmate, smiles as she walks by Takumi, but she's an escort, who has been secretly going on dates with a sugar daddy who drives a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Street racers Takeshi Nakazato of the NightKids, who drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R VSpec II R32, and Ryosuke Takahashi of the RedSuns, who drives a Mazda Savanna RX-7 Type-R FC, talk about racing each other after they defeat the competition at Akina. When Takeshi visits the gas station to issue a challenge to the racing god of Mt. Akina, Itsuki (with Takumi riding along) arrives to defend that title, but in the ensuing race, Itsuki is embarrassed thoroughly and damages his Nissan Silvia. However, Takeshi is later beaten in an unofficial race by the AE86. Takeshi returns to the gas station to ask who owns the AE86. Yuichi asks Bunta if he has been racing again; he learns that Takumi has been driving the AE86 for the past five years and has been steadily improving his racing skills. Natsuki wants to go on a beach date with Takumi, so Bunta agrees to loan him the car and fill the gas tank provided that he wins the race at Akina.

Takumi defeats Takeshi in the downhill race in front of Ryosuke, Itsuki, and the other RedSuns and NightKids. Natsuki and Takumi enjoy a beach date. Takumi teaches Itsuki how to race a Trueno he has purchased. Halfway down the mountain, Seiji Iwaki of the Emperor Team in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR, taunts them and angers Takumi to the point that he races and defeats Seiji, causing the latter to spin out and damage the side of his Evo.

Takumi discovers that Itsuki's car does not perform like his father's car, which Ryosuke tells him it has been custom-tuned and modified. Takumi agrees to race Ryosuke in three weeks, but on the way downhill, Emperor team leader Kyoichi Sudo in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III RS overtakes Takumi; in the ensuing race, the AE86's engine breaks down. Ryosuke tells Takumi that he will challenge Kyoichi, and offers to lend him one of his cars, but Takumi declines. Bunta tells Takumi that Natsuki is visiting her hometown for two weeks. Bunta and Yuichi have the AE86 outfitted with a new Twin Cam 20-valve SilverTop AE101 racing engine. Takumi struggles with the modified car well until Bunta shows him how to take advantage of its new mechanics.

After seeing Natsuki with the Mercedes guy coming from a love hotel, Itsuki tells Takumi that Natsuki is a prostitute, which angers Takumi and they fight. The afternoon before the race he thinks he sees Natsuki in the Mercedes at a railroad crossing but is unable to catch up to them. He later calls Natsuki, who tells him she is coming back tonight but is with the Mercedes guy whom she tells they cannot see each other anymore.

At the showdown, Ryosuke offers to team with Takumi on defeating Kyoichi, but Takumi declines. During the race, Ryosuke lets Kyoichi pass him and then follows closely. Ryosuke and Takumi use the gutter trick to overtake Kyoichi. Despite the warning messages of a driver going up the hill, Kyoichi's Evo III tries to overtake the two but is forced to swerve off the road from the oncoming car and flips off the cliffside, totaling his Evo III. Ryosuke overtakes Takumi at the five hairpin turns. Bunta explains to the watchers that the FC's tires are losing their grip and that it is up to Takumi to compete against himself and not his opponent. Takumi undertakes Ryosuke on the last hairpin turn to win the race.

Ryosuke offers Takumi to join his new racing team, but Takumi goes to see Natsuki. However, he sees the Mercedes guy drop off Natsuki with a hug. Takumi and Natsuki see each other but Takumi runs away, while Natsuki falls to the ground crying. Takumi tearfully drives away. Takumi calls Itsuki to apologize and then calls Ryosuke to accept his offer to join Ryosuke’s new expedition team (Project D).

Cast

Jay Chou as Takumi Fujiwara
Anne Suzuki as Natsuki Mogi, Takumi's classmate and love interest
Edison Chen as Ryosuke Takahashi, leader of the RedSuns
Anthony Wong as Bunta Fujiwara, Takumi's father, a former racer who now runs a tofu shop
Shawn Yue as Takeshi Nakazato, leader of the NightKids
Chapman To as Itsuki Tachibana, Takumi's friend and the leader of the Akina SpeedStars. His father owns the gas station.
Jordan Chan as Kyoichi Sudou, leader of Team Emperor
Kenny Bee as Yuuichi Tachibana, the gas station owner and Bunta's friend
Tsuyoshi Abe as Kenji, one of the gas station attendants who is a member of Akina SpeedStars
Liu Keng Hung, as Seiji Iwaki, member of Team Emperor
Chie Tanaka as Miya, a female gas station attendant that Itsuki dates
Kazuyuki Tsumura as Mr. X, Natsuki's sugar daddy

Production

The Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japanese, American and British versions each have different soundtracks.

Release

Initial D was released on 23 June 2005 in several Asian markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China. In the Philippines, the film was released on 12 July 2006.^[6] In North America, the film screened at the Chicago International Film Festival on 15 October 2005^[7] and had a limited run at the Imaginasian Theater in New York City on 30 December 2005.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Home media

Initial D was released as a direct to video DVD in Australia on 21 October 2005. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April, and the Philippines on 12 July 2006. Tai Seng Entertainment, the distributor of Initial D in the United States, released Initial D on Blu-ray on 22 January 2008. This is an exclusive release for the Blu-ray format which included an English dub.^{[citation needed]}

In Japan, the DVD release sold 250,000 units, grossing approximately ¥998 million ($13 million) in video sales revenue.^[11]

Soundtrack

The AAA song "Blood on Fire" (2005), the film's main theme song, sold 58,052 single units, grossing approximately ¥29.03 million.^{[citation needed]} The Mink insert song "Beautiful" sold 2,786 units, grossing ¥2.93 million.^{[citation needed]}

The U.K. release of the film features an entirely different soundtrack composed and compiled by Richie Warren of Fuel. ^{[citation needed]}

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 33% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 4.1/10.^[12]

Accolades

Initial D won six awards out of 15 nominations from the 42nd Golden Horse Awards in 2005 and 25th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2006.

42nd Golden Horse Awards

Category	Nomination	Result	Ref
Best Supporting Actor	Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	Won	^[13]
Best New Performer	Jay Chou	Won
Best Adapted Screenplay	Felix Chong Man-Keung	Nominated
Best Original Song	"飄移" (Drifting) by Jay Chou from November's Chopin	Nominated
Best Visual Effects	Victor Wong, Eddy Wong, Bryan Cheung	Nominated
Best Sound Effects	Kinson Tsang King-Cheung	Nominated

25th Hong Kong Film Awards

Category	Nomination	Result	Ref
Best Supporting Actor	Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	Won	^[14]
Best New Performer	Jay Chou	Won
Best Sound Design	Kinson Tsang King-Cheung	Won
Best Visual Effects	Victor Wong, Eddy Wong, Bryan Cheung	Won
Best Film	Initial D	Nominated
Best Director	Andrew Lau Wai-Keung, Alan Mak Siu-Fai	Nominated
Best Editing	Wong Hoi	Nominated
Best Original Score	Chan Kwong-Wing	Nominated
Best Original Song	"飄移" (Drifting) by Jay Chou from November's Chopin	Nominated

Cancelled sequel

A sequel has been in discussion since the following year after the movie debuted. However, a concrete conclusion could not be reached due to obstacles that include the storyline, filming locations, casts, and safety reasons. In March 2014, director and producer, Andrew Lau, once again reconfirmed in an exclusive interview that a sequel will surely follow but is tight-lipped on the release date. Jay Chou and Edison Chen will reprise their roles.^[15] In 2018, Felix Chong, the screenwriter for the first film, stated he and Lau previously had plans to develop the sequel but both have since moved onto other projects, citing production costs being too high due to Lau's insistence on using real cars instead of CGI.^[16] In 2020, director Andrew Lau stated that if a sequel is put into production he would likely not be directing it, citing the toll the first film took on his health, licensing issues, and once again budget issues, and also suggesting that Takumi should take on a mentor role similar to his father in the first film.^[17] The sequel, as of 2023, is now considered to be in development hell.

Changes from the original manga and anime

The film differs from the manga and anime in several distinct ways.^[18] Because of this, the film mostly combines elements from First Stage, Second Stage, and briefly Third Stage as well.

Film	Anime/Manga
Itsuki is a spoiled brat and the son of Yuuichi Tachibana, the gas station manager. He is the de facto leader of the Akina Speed Stars.^[18]	Itsuki Takeuchi is an employee at the gas station, and is not related to Tachibana. Iketani is the leader of the Akina Speed Stars.
Keisuke Takahashi does not appear in the film. Ryosuke assumes some of Keisuke's characteristics	Keisuke Takahashi appears at the beginning of the anime and runs the first race with Takumi using his Mazda RX-7 FD.
Bunta Fujiwara is portrayed as an abusive, easily angered, alcoholic womanizer.	Bunta is portrayed as a wise and often secretive father, who nurtures Takumi's "gift" of touge racing. He likes to drink but is not an alcoholic.
Team Emperor is portrayed as a bōsōzoku gang.	Team Emperor is portrayed as a semi-professional street racing team.
Itsuki tells Takumi that Natsuki Mogi is cheating on him after noticing Mogi in another man's Mercedes-Benz driving out of a hotel. Takumi then sees Mogi in the Mercedes on the highway and also when he goes to Mogi's estate in the end.	In the anime, an anonymous phone call following anonymous notes (later turns out to be the daughter of the middle-aged man, also a friend and classmate of Natsuki) informs Takumi that Natsuki is engaging in enjo kōsai. Takumi stakes out a family restaurant and sees Mogi entering the Mercedes together with a middle-aged man. In the manga, Takumi goes to the love hotel parking lot and sees Natsuki riding in a black Mercedes.^[19]
Takumi is tailed by Kyoichi Sudo, and gets involved in a race that ends when his engine makes a small popping noise and then his car stops.^[18]	After discovering Natsuki has been going to the love hotel,^[19] Takumi impulsively accepts Sudo's challenge.^{Ch. 101} During the race on Mount Akagi, Takumi's car blows out its engine and spins out.^{Ch. 107}^[18]
Natsuki realizes Takumi is upset about her affairs when she sees him angrily driving off. Takumi then joins Project D shortly afterwards.	Natsuki does not realize Takumi discovered her secret until he acts cold to her at school. She tries to reconcile with him over multiple chapters.^{Ch. 173} She even visits his dad and works briefly at the gas station. Takumi amicably parts ways with Natsuki, joining Project D when they start up in Spring.
Itsuki drives a Nissan Silvia K's (S13) which he crashes and later on he drives a Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86).	Itsuki mistakenly obtains a Toyota Corolla Levin SR (AE85), thinking it is a Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86), in contrast with Takumi's Trueno. Koichiro Iketani drives the Nissan Silvia K's (S13).
Both Takumi Fujiwara and Ryosuke Takahashi use the gutter technique to win against Kyoichi.	Only Takumi and Bunta are ever seen using the gutter technique in the anime. Ryosuke and Nakazato know of it. (Ryosuke was able to copy Takumi's version of it during their duel in the manga, but he admits that he would not be able to do it on his own.)
The driver's racing bucket seat is missing from the modification list. In addition, the engine, carbon fiber hood, tachometer, and light weight headlamps are installed all at once during the re-tuning after the AE86 breaks down.	Each of the modifications are installed separately: first, the 200+ horsepower 4A-GEU engine and then the tachometer are installed during 2nd Stage. During the 4th stage, a carbon fiber hood and light-weight headlamps are installed.
Bunta gave Takumi a cup of water to put in the cup holder in the AE86 the day after Takumi breaks the tofu in the AE86's boot. Bunta tells Takumi not to spill even a single drop of it or warned that he'll be thrown/kicked out of his house for the night.	Bunta simply gave Takumi a cup of water right on his second day of his tofu delivery; Bunta filled the cup up a little more every time and told him not to spill a single drop of it. Bunta never threatened to kick Takumi out of the house.
Takeshi Nakazato drifts when driving his R32, and his R32 is said to have 350 horsepower.	Takeshi Nakazato never drifts when driving his R32, as he prefers the "grip" style of driving instead, while his R32 has 380 horsepower.
'Papa' drives a Mercedes S-Class (shown initially as a W220 and then as a W140).	'Papa' drives a Mercedes E-Class (W210) in the anime and a Mercedes-Benz 190E in the manga.

Works cited

Initial D manga series

^ "Ch." and "Vol." are shortened forms for chapter and volume and refer to the appropriate sections in the Initial D manga:

Shigeno, Shuichi Initial D. (in Japanese) 45 vols. Tokyo: 1995–2012.
Shigeno, Shuichi Initial D. (English version) 33 vols. Los Angeles: Tokyopop. 2002–09